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Groupings made for Shanghai Masters Cup
(China Daily/Reuters)
Updated: 2005-11-10 06:15
Reigning world No 1 Lindsay Davenport of the United States signalled her
intention of doing all she can to hang on to the top spot with a 6-2, 7-6 (7/1)
victory over Russian Nadia Petrova.
Kim Clijsters of
Belgium reacts during her 6-1 4-6 7-6(2) loss to Mary Pierce of France
during the WTA Tour Championships in Los Angeles November 8, 2005.
[Reuters] | In the day's other match, defending
champion Maria Sharapova opened her bid for a repeat in the three million-dollar
tournament with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Switzerland's Patty Schnyder.
Pierce's triumph over Clijsters was her first over the Belgian in four career
meetings. Their most recent previous clash was Clijsters's straight-set
hammering of Pierce in the final at Flushing Meadows - a win that gave Clijsters
the first Grand Slam title of her career.
"I feel like I learned something from the last match," said Pierce, who
turned the tables at the Staples Center with a solid service performance and an
aggressive return game.
And Clijsters, who said she still hadn't adjusted to the nine-hour time
difference between Belgium and California, turned in an uncharacteristicly
inconsistent performance that included 11 double faults.
"I was not seeing the ball well at all today," Clijsters said. "I felt tired.
The lights felt too bright. I was just mentally tired."
Pierce, on the other hand, came out firing on all cylinders.
"No matter how well I played in the first set, I think she would have won
it," Clijsters said.
But Pierce said she felt a difference in Clijsters, especially in the opening
set.
"In the first set, Kim wasn't playing well, she wasn't moving," Pierce said.
"I was suprised how I won the first set quickly and easily."
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